Ready computer



April l1, 1939. H. wATsoN READY COMPUTER Filed Nov. 10, 1937 l.: l.ulnnlnlnllilnllualall T- T l I I 1 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Application November 10, 1937, Serial No. 173,915 InCanada December 1, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a ready computer andappertains particularly to an instrument of this kind designed for thebuilding trade for use in roofing.

An object of the invention is to provide a ready computer that willprovide instantly all the essential igures for framing either a hip oroctagonal roof without knowledge of calculating with a steel square.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ready computer of thiskind for roofers in which a pair of endless belts, bearing the necessaryindicia, are mounted parallel within a portable casing, and are eachpartly visible through its own window in opposite sides of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handy instrument ofthis kind capable of being adapted to many uses of which that describedis but an apparent and at present seems a desirable one.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanismfor an instrument as aforesaid or the like for propelling a ribbon orendless belt without danger of slipping and without supporting theribbon or belt in any way.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of aninstrument and operating mechanism therefor of the nature and for thepurposes described that is characterized by structural simplicity,eiiiciency and durability, and being capable of production at low costis thereby rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall becomeapparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

'I'he invention will be best understood and can be more clearlydescribed when reference is had to the drawing forming a part of thisdisclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the instrument;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, as taken on line 2-2 ofFigure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section thereof as taken along theline 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The device is shown in the form of a handy pocket instrument comprisinga rectangular cas- (Cl. 23S-86) A pair of parallel rollers I I arepositioned near f each end of the casing 5 on transverse spindles orbushings I2 whose opposite ends are journalled inthe side walls 6 andencircling corresponding pairs of idler rollers II respectively, nearopposite ends of the casing 5 are two endless steel 10 ribbon belts I3.'I'he belts are provided near each edge with a continuous row of oblongperforations I4 and carry on their outer surfaces a continuous series oftransverse panels of indicia I5, one of which is readable at a timethrough a correspondingly sized window I6, for the upper belt I3, in thecasing top 8; and one of the panels on the lower belt through a similarwindow I'I in the bottom 9.

The indicia on the panels is arranged in vertical rows for horizontalregistry with identifying descriptions I8 on the top 8 and bottom 9alongside the respective windows I6 and I'I and provides at a glance allthe ready-calculated cuts for rafters, purlings, and sheeting, on thetop belt for hip roofs and on the lower belt for octagonal roofs, forany pitch from 1 inch to 24 inches rise per foot run.

Between the parallel pair of rollers I I near one end of the casing is arotatable shaft I9 jour- 30 nalled at one end in one of the sides 6 butat its other end projecting right through the opposite side of thecasing and carrying a knurled wheel 20 on its exposed end. A pair ofspaced sprocket wheels 2| are rigidly attached to the shaft I9 withinthe casing, one near each side for engagement with the rows ofperforations I4 in the belts I3 into and through which the sprocketwheel teeth extend. For the reception of the sprocket wheel teeth afterpassing through the perforations in the ribbon belts annular grooves 22are provided near opposite ends of each of the pair of rollers I Iengaged by these sprocket wheels 2|. The result is a belt operatingmechanism that is positive and cannot slip under any circumstances evenif it was heavily loaded. The sprockets cannot spread away from eitheror both the adjacent rollers, the idler rollers carry all the fixed loadof the belts and the belts are supported throughout their width vby therollers at the time of engagement by the sprockets excepting only forthe narrow cutaway sprocket accommodating grooves so the sprocket teethmust extend completely through the perforations and into these groovesand nothing short of the tearing of the belts or the stripping of thesprocket teeth can defeat the positive rotation of the belts on theactuation of their propelling sprocket.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be manifest that a ready computer and operatingmechanism therefor is provided that will fulfill all the necessaryrequirements of such a device but as many changes could be made in theabove description and many apparently widely dierent embodiments of myinvention may be constructed within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended thatall matters contained in the said accompanying specification anddrawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitative orrestrictive sense.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A computer comprising a casing, a pair of windows in opposite sidesthereof, a pair of parallel belts rotatably mounted in said casingrespectively visible through said opposite windows and a common beltengaging means for revolving both of said belts in unison.

2. An instrument for rapid computing and the like comprising a casinghaving a transversely disposed window therein; a free idling roller ineach end thereof, an endless belt running around said rollers so thataportion thereof is always in registry with and visible through saidwindow, a row of perforations near each edge of said belt and operatingmechanism engaging in the perforations of said belt at some point in thearc of contact of said belt with one of said supporting idler rollers.

3. An instrument; or the like comprising a casing, a transverselydisposed window therein, a transverse roller freely journalled near eachend of said casing, an endless belt running around said rollers, aportion of which is always in registry with and visible through saidwindow, a row of perforations near each edge of said belt, an annulargroove cut near each end of one of said rollers spaced equal with thedistance between opposite rows of perforations in said belt, and beltmoving sprockets engaging said belt at some point in the arc of contactof said belt with the grooved roller whose teeth are adapted to passthrough the perforations in said belt and into said grooves.

4. An instrument for rapid computing and the like comprising incombination with the structure set forth in claim l, free rollers inopposite ends of said casing for carrying said pair of parallel belts, acontinuous series of transverse panels of indicia in vertical rows onsaid belts readable one panel on each belt at a time through saidwindows, and identifying descriptions on said casing alongside saidwindows in horizontal registry with the vertical rows of indicia in saidpanels.

HENRY WATSON.

